CHHAPAR MELA: Sidhu bashes Badals for ‘financial mess’

The largest rural fair of the north India, Chhapar Mela, proved to be a rare arena where mudslinging turned out to be free-for-all.While leaders of the ruling party blamed the Opposition for unnecessary criticism for getting cheap publicity and remaining in the limelight, SAD, BJP, AAP and SAD(A) leaders exploited the event for proving that the Congress had grabbed power in the state by making false promises.Addressing Congress activists and the gathering, Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu alleged that the Badal clan would be remembered for its alleged involvement in economic exploitation of the state exchequer and Punjabis.“The SAD-BJP regime will be remembered as the period of economic terrorism,” said Sidhu. Terming the Zabar Virodhi Lehar of the SAD a political gimmick, Sidhu said Badals had no right to criticise the present government as they had been known for their cruelties and excesses. Sidhu cited a number of criminal cases in which the victims were denied justice during the previous SAD-BJP regime. Sidhu announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the development of Chhapar village.Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said loans of deserving farmers would be waived in near future.Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot alleged that the state was reeling under financial crisis due to non-cooperative attitude of the Union government. He said, “Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh had come to the rescue of the Punjab government even when Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister. But now the Modi government is not helping the state.” President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Sunil Jakhar said the Congress would repay the support and faith posed by each voter in their candidates.